Voter Identification

You must prove your identity and address to register and vote in a federal election. Here are your ID options when you are voting in person – at an Elections Canada office, at advance polls or on election day:

Can I use my passport to vote?

Why can't my passport count as proof of my name and address?

Passport holders write their own address into their passport. For a piece of ID to count as a proof of address, the address must be added by the issuer of the document. That's why we accept a passport as proof of identity (name), but not as proof of address.

What is a letter of confirmation of residence? How can I get one?

This letter is a piece of ID you can use to prove your address, if one of these living situations applies to you:

you live on a First Nations reserve or in an Inuit hamlet

you are a student living on campus

you live in a seniors' residence, long-term care facility or shelter

you live on the streets, but use the services of a shelter or soup kitchen

You can get this letter from the administrator of a First Nations band or reserve, an Inuit local authority, a student residence, seniors' residence, long-term care facility, shelter or soup kitchen.

If you live on the streets and receive services from a shelter or soup kitchen: If you can, print the letter of confirmation of residence form and ask the administrator to complete it and sign it. We will also accept a letter from the administrator that is printed on the shelter's or soup kitchen's letterhead. When you go vote, bring the letter and a second piece of ID with your name.

How do I know if someone is registered in the same polling division as me?

The person who attests to your address has to live in your polling division and be registered to vote.

How to know if someone lives in your polling division: Someone who lives with you is in the same polling division as you. A neighbour usually lives in your polling division, too.

To be sure, verify that their "poll number" matches yours. Poll numbers are available online or on the back of your voter information card shortly after the election is called.

How to know if someone is registered to vote: Anyone who receives a voter information card in their name is registered to vote. Make sure you have one, and check with the person who will attest to your address to see if they got one, too. If one of you didn't a card, register online or call us at 1-800-463-6868.